THE MAKERS of seaweed products mentioned in a video clip claiming their products were made of plastic, say they have lost hundreds of millions of yuan since the video went viral. The companies in Quanzhou, Fujian province, East China, have reported the matter to the authorities. Beijing News commented on Tuesday:

It felt more like a mischief at first, but the incident now seems less like innocent fun. As well as sweeping away the rumors, the relevant departments should take effective measures to catch those responsible.

At the same time, we should look at the reasons the rumors of plastic seaweed were able to spread. First of all, the public have little knowledge of seaweed, which gave the rumors room to exist. Second, food safety is one of the biggest concerns people have and this fueled the rumor.

In other words, facing such allegations, the authorities not only need to think about how to raise public awareness that the claims are bogus, but also strengthen food safety.

If the departments concerned only deal with the rumors when they emerge, it leaves space for them to appear. If so, the related businesses and industries may struggle to cope with the false allegations and people may panic without reason.